Measuring mechanism.



P. A. DE LAY.

MEASURING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED'JAN.11, 1909.

W1/577/65363! v fnventdr 977,516. V Patented Dec. 6,1910.

u/ B @mv 015245 64029 FREDERIC A. DE LAY, OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN.

MEASURING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Application filed January 11, 1909. Serial No. 471,592.

To all whom it may concern: y,

Be it known that I, FREDERIC A. DE LAY, a. citizen of the Unltcd States, residingat Ann Arbor, in the county of \Vashtenaw and. State of Michigan, have invented a cerment should be efiiciently controlled to be in proper proportion with other elements to be measured. In these systems stop-watches are usually employed, but are not automatically controlled, by the manipulation of other mechanism 'for measuring other elements of the measurement to be made. As the time element is very often read in seconds and fractions of a second, there 18 very apt to be discrepancy. In accordance with my invention the time'mcchanism is automatically controlledjby the'operation of the mechanisms for .measuring the other ele-. ments 'ofthe measurements to be made, so'

that the tinie'element will be in exact accord with the other elements. 1' preferably electromagnetically control the time mechanism and connect this mechanism by means of electrical conductors with the other mechanisms of this system in such fashion that when theother mechanism .is set into operation', the time mechanism will automatically start, and when the other mechanism is restored to its inoperative position, the time mechanism will simultaneously be sto ped. A revolution counter, for example, cou d be associated with the time mechanism, so that .the application of the counter to the rotating member whose speed is to be determined would affect the circuit connections so that the time mechanism would start and so that disconnection of the counter from the rotating member would alIect the circuits to sto the time mechanism.

11 the accompanying drawings I have shown my' invention applied to a revolution cou'ntin arrangement.

In this drawing Fi ure 1 is a front elevation view of an incIosing case containing the time mechanism and the electrical controlling mechanism therefor, the front wall being partly broken away: Fig. 2 shows the time mechanism, a revolution counter and part of a member whose rotation is to be measured, together with the controlling electrical circuitsrlilig. 3 shows a modified arrangement of balaneeavheel and magnet; and Fig. l is a plan-view showing the time mechanism and the counting mechanism united to form a single structure. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of couiiter and contact mechanism for determiningthe tune. of a predetermined number of revoluons.

as of rectangular construction and provided with'a cover 2. Within the case is the time mechanism represented in general by T, and a source of current such as a dry cell 8. 1 The time mechanism frame comprises the parallel plates 4 and 5 suitably secured together, and between which the various shafts for the time mechanism are pivoted. The balance wheel 6 is pivoted between the plate l and the bracket '7, the balance spring 8 being conncted at one end to the bracket and at its other end to the balance wheel, as well understood in the art.- Secured to rotate con- .centrically with the balance wheel is the pinion 9, which meshes with the teeth 10 at the end of the arm 11 extending from the escapement pawl 12, pivoted between plate 1 and bracket 13. The teeth 14, l5-of this escape ment pawlcooperate with the escapement wheel 16 in the well-known manner This escapement wheel is secured to and rotates 20 of gears, which train connects with the hour and minute hands 21 and 22 to cause that the main spring 26 can be wound,

which spring isconnected with the other clockwork in a manner well understood. In

clockwork the balance wheel is usually of non-magnetic material. In accordance with my invention I provide an armatureexten- 'sion 27 onthc balance wheel, and adjacent the path of said armature extension I arrange an electromagnet frame 28 sorthat when the electromagnet frame is magnetiz ed, the armature will be attracted and the balance wheel and the time mechanism stopped. The balance wheels are usually provided with a plurality of weights 29 extending radially from the periphery thereof, and these weights are also of non-magnetic material. For the purposes of my invention, one of the weights could be of magnetic material, and with this arrangement the perfect balance of the balance wheel would not be alfected. The magnet frame should be preferably arranged so that the balance wheel will be held at either end of its oscillation angle. This causes the time element to be more accurate and dead center effects will be avoided, the full force of the balance spring being active whenever the magnetism is again withdrawn, so that starting of the balance wheel and time mechanism is assured after each stoppage thereof. The magnet frame can therefore be of horse-shoe shape, as shown, with its poles 30 and 31 ar ranged at the ends of the oscillation angle.

The cover 2 carries-the main binding posts 32 and 33, switch contacts 34: and 35adapted to be connected by switch plate 36, and switch contacts 37 and 38 adapted to be connected by switch plate 39. As shown, the electro-magnet winding 40 connects by means of conductors 41 and 4.2 with binding posts 32 and 33, respectively. A resistance winding 43 is suitably supported within the case, its one terminal connecting through conductor 4L4 with switch contact 34: and its other terminal connecting through conductor 45 with one terminal of the battery 3, the other terminal of the battery connecting tln ough conductor 46 with main binding pm 33. Switch contact 35 connects through conductor 47 with main binding post 32. this arrangement, if switch plate 36 is closed, the battery will be connected serially in circuit with the resistance 43 and the winding 40, the balance wheel armature being attracted and the clock mechanism at rest. If switch 36 is opened, the circuit through the winding 40 is opened and the magnetism withdrawn to allow the balance wheel to resume operation. \Ye therefore have an electromagnetically controlled stop clock.

The operation of my device may now be clearly understood: Before measuring the amount of time which elapses during the operation of any series of movements the switch 36 should be closed and the switch 39 opened. In this way the electromagnet 28 is energized and the balance wheel 6 is held in position so that the clockwork does not operate. In order to start. the operation of my device when the series of movements of a machine or other mechanism is started suitable connections are made so that when the movements of the same start the electromagnet 28 rendered ineffective, thereby allowing the balance wheel 6 to start and the clockwork to be operated. Similarly,

With

'the switch 39 the electromagnet 28 is shortcircuited and will not be energiaed, and the balance wheel will be allowed to move. I It is evident that automatically making electrical connections analogous to those of the switch 39 will clr so a shunt circuit, and thereby the clockwo'k will be started, whereas, when the shunt circuit is automatically opened, the clockwork will be stopped. The special application of thisgeneral principle to the operation of the counter for determining the speed of revolution of shafts and the like will now be described. in Fig. 2, this short circuit arrangement is used in conjunction with the revolution counter mechanism R, a conductor l8 connecting main binding post 33 with the frames .of the revolution counter and a conductor a9 connecting binding post 32 with the contact member such as a spring 50, carried by an insulator from the frame of the counter. The counter shown is of the ordinary construction, the spindle 5l having the pointed end 52, and its inner end carrying worm threads which mesh with the worm 54-, connected to the pointer 55, traveling over a scale 56. The spring 50 extends forwardly so that when the end of spindle 51 is applied .to the member to be measured such as the shaft 57, said spring will engage and make contact with the shaft, and conductors 4S and 49 will then be connected together through the frame of the counter, the spindle 51, shaft 57 and sprin 50,

and the electromagnet is shunted and the c ook mechanism started. Simultaneously with the withdrawal of the counter from the shaft the electromagnet again becomes effective and the clock is stopped. By means of my invention, therefore, the time element is automatically obtained and no special supervision is necessary, and this time element is always in accordance with the other elements of the measurement.

As shown in Fig. 3, the electromagnet could be of horse-shoe type so that the magnet extensions 27 and 27 would move to and from a position between its poles. This arrangement would give a better magnetic circuit and the magnetic extensions could be lighter, the result being that less mag netizmg current would be necessary.

Instead of having the time mechanism and counting mechanism disconnected they could be united into a single structure, as shown in Fig. 4. The time mechanism could be in the form of a watch V secured to the counter frame opposite the counter indicator, as shown, and the electromagnet 28 could be at the exterior of the watch case As shown or at the interior thereof. Binding posts 58, 59 could be applied for connection of the device with the battery.

Fig. 5 showsa modified ar angement of contact mechanism, the control being'such that the main circuit will be automatically closed at regular intervals to cause the time mechanism to register during periods each of which covers a predetermined number of revolutions, the counter remainin in contact with the member whose spec is being determined. This contact mechanism is in the form of a commutator, having the contact sector (50 and the insulating sector 61. As shown, each of the sectors extends through 180. so that during each one-half revolution of the counter dial, the contact sector 0 will be in engagement with the brush 6'2, suitably mounted on, but insulated from, the frame of the counter, the commutator sector being, however. connected with the frame of the counter. posts" (33 and (il serve for connecting the brush and f 'ame,-respectively, with the conductors l8 and 49. The are of thesector 60 can be adjusted so that periods of revolutions are successively measured by the time mechanism and the speed of rotation can be readily estimated. For example, the counter could be permanently eainected with an axle and the successive time indications noted. The speed of rotation and other ele ments could then be readily determined.

()tlier arrangements are also possible which would be covered by my invention. The electromagnetically controlled time mechanism could, of course, be associated with other measuring mechanisms besides the revolution counter shown, and the time mechanism could be used alone as a stop watch or clock for measuring time elei'nent. By suitabl arranging the circuits. one time mechanism would serve to control a plurality of other measuring mechanisms. and. a plurality of time mechanismscould also be simultaneously actuated.

Having thus described my invention. I desire to secure the following'claims by Letters Patent:

1. In combination. a revolution counter, a time indicating device, electromagnetic means controlling the operation of said time indicating device, electric circuits connecting between said time indicating device and the counter, and contacts automatically actuated to control the circuits to start the time indicating device when the counter is applied to a member to measure its speed, and to control said circuits to cause stopping of the time "indicating device when said counter withdrawn from said member.

2. In combination, a time indicating device, a revolution counter, and electric means adapted to automatically start and stop the time indicating device upon application or Binding ment measuring device, and contact in :ha-

nisni, said contact mechanism" being actuated when the movement measuring device is connected with the member to be measured ,to control the circuits to cause starting of the time element ind *ating device, and said contact mechanism being adapted upon withdrawal of the movement measuring device from said member to ,control the circuits to stop the time element indicating device, said devices being thereby, simultaneously started and stopped. 4. In combination. a {U116 indi'cating'device comprising clock-work controlled by a balance wheel, an armature carried by said balance wheel, a core adjacent the path of said armature, andmeaiis formagnetically energizing .and deenergizing said core to cause stopping and to allow starting of the time indicating mechanism.

In combination, time indicating.mem-

bers driven by clock work. a balance wheel 'tor said clockwork. an armature carried by said balance wheel, an clcctroniagnet through whose field the armature travels,

and electric circuits for controlling the energization of said clectromagnet, energization oftaid electroniagnetcausing said armature to be held, whereby said balance wheel and clockwork are stopped.

(3. In combination, clockwork, an oscillating balance wheel for controlling said clockwork, an armature carriedby said balance wheel, an electromagnet having a pole near one end ofi the are of oscillation of said armature, and electric circuits for controlling the energization of said electromagnet, cnergization of saidelectromagnet causingsaid armature to, be 'heldwhen it reaches said pole, whereby the clock mechanism is stopped.

7. In combination, clockwork, time indicating members driven by said clockwork, an oscillating balance wheel for said clock work. an armature carried by said balance wheel, an electromagnet having its poles ad'- jacentthe ends-of the arc of oscillation of said armature, and electric means for controlling the energization of said electroma gnct, thereby stopping said balance wheel and its associateo clockwork when the tlll'ltl- 'ture of the balance wheel comes into the field of either oi said poles.

8. In combination, time indicating members, clockwork driving said members, an

an oscillating balance whee for controlling i said clockwork, an armature earritwl on said u heel. a stationary eleeiromagnet adjacent the path of the armature. an electric circuit normally controlled to cause energizatiou oi said electromagnet whereby said armature is attracted and the balance wheel and clockmeasuring work stopped, and switching means forchanging the circuit positions to cause the decnergization of said electromagnct to allow oscillation of the balance wheel and movement of the clockwork.

10. In combination, measuring instrument, a time indicating device, electromagnetic mechanism controlling the operation of said time indicating device, and automatic means for simultaneously starting and stopping said measuring instrument and said time indicating device by the application of said instrument to and its withdrawal from the member whose movement" is to be measured.

11. In combination, a movement measuring instrument, a time-indicating devicc,i electromagnetic mechanism controllmg the operation of said tune-indicating device, an

electric circuit for said electromagnetic mechanism, and means for automatically controlling said electric circuit to start and stop said time-indicating measuring instrument is respectively applied to and taken from the member whose movement is to be measured.

l2. In con'1bination. a movement measuring instrument, a time-indicating device, electromagnetic mechanism controlling the operation of said time-indicating device, a

source of current adapted to be connected in series with said electromagnetic mechanism, a manual switch controlling the connection between said source of current and said electromagnetic mechanism, a shunt circuit around said electromagnetic mechanism, and means for controlling said shunt circuit by the application of said instrument to and its withdrawal from the member whose movement is to be measured.

13. In combination, a movement measuring instrument, a timeindicating device, electromagnetic mechanism controlling the operation of said time-indicating device, a source of current adapted to be connected in series with said electromagnetic mechanism, a manual switch controlling the connection between said source of current and said electromagnetic mechanism, a shunt circuit around said electromagnetic mechanism, and switching means carried by said movement instrument for automatically controlling said shunt circuit by the application of said instrument to and its withdrawal from the member whose movement is to be measured. Y

14. In combination, a movement measuring instrument, a time-indicating device, electromagnetic mechanism controlling the operation of. said time-indicating device, a source of current adapted to be connected in series with said electromagnetic mechanism, a manual switch controlling'the connection between said source of current and said electromagnetic mechanism, a shunt circuit around said electromagnetic mechanism, switching means carried by said movement measuring instrument for automatically tion of said instrument to and its with 3 drawal from the member whose movement ing instrument, a time-indicatingl is to be measured, and a second shunt circuit around said electromagnetic mechanism controlled by a manual switch.

15. In combination, a movement measur- 7 device, electromagnetic mechanism contro ing said time, indicating device, a source of current arranged to be connected in series with'said electromagnetic mechanism, a resistance arranged to be connected in series with said source of current and said'eIectromagnetic mechanism, a shunt circuit for short-circuiting said electromagnetic mechanism, and switching means for automatically closing said shunt circuit by the ap lication of said instrument to and its withdiawal from the member whose movement is to be measured.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 31st day of December, A. D. 1908.

I FREDERIC A. DE LAY."

Witnesses:

LYNN A. WVILLIAMs, MARGARET A. OBEIRNE. 

